A village fair is an annual affair in the rural areas of Bangladesh. It is a large gathering place for men, women, and children. The village people gather here to sell and buy local products. It is a great attraction for children. It is a traditional occasion of village life. It is a great source of recreation. They welcome a fair. It is not only profit but also pride that makes them come to the village fair.
A village fair usually sits in the central part of the village or on the bank of a river or at the market place or in the yard of a temple. It is generally held on the occasion of a religious festival or on the death anniversary of a holy man. It is also held in the beginning day of Baishakh. It lasts for a day or for days together.
A village fair is a kind of exhibition. It is generally held in the central part of the village or on the bank of a river or under the spreading big banyan tree. The people of different professions bring their own handmade articles for sale and display. The shop-keepers sit in rows. Clothes, toys, cheap ornaments, cosmetics, cheap fancy goods, utensils, bamboo made articles, sweetmeats and many other attractive things are sold in the village fair. The most attractive items are circus parties, Jatra parties, puppet shows, magic shows, etc. There are also earthenwares and stationery goods in a village fair. Everybody buys things after his own choice.
People of different classes visit a village fair and can enjoy different attractions there. The main attractions are Jatra, Circus, Doll-dance, magic show, etc. A merry-go-round attracts the children most. Even the grown-up people cannot but take this funny opportunity of having pleasure.
A village fair comes to the use of the villagers in many ways. It acts like a market for cottage \ industries and encourages the artisans, craftsmen, potters, weavers, and cultivators. It also gives enjoyment to the simple villagers. Various kinds of sweetmeats and seasonal fruits are also available here.
A village fair has some demerits. It has no proper sanitation. A village fair has some demerits too. Sometimes gamblers play gambling. It harms the youth. Pickpocketers also take the opportunity in the midst of the crowd. Gambling parties are often seen in a village fair. These cause economic loss to the simple villagers. From this, the innocent boys get the first training to go astray. Its ultimate result is very fatal for society. In spite of having some demerits, it has some educative and traditional values.
A village fair is much hooked for the occasion of the village people. It brings a valuable and essential change in the life of the villagers. It bears the testimony of the tradition. It broadens their thinking and inspires them. It plays an important role in our economic development. We learn where things are made and what economic progress there has been in the locality and we meet and mix with a variety of people, all this is a good lesson for us. The Govt. should encourage the fair as they promote rural arts and crafts.
